Aldermen back Emanuel push for Chicago casino

The City Council today backed Mayor Rahm Emanuel's push to get Gov. Pat Quinn to sign off on a major gambling expansion that would bring a casino to Chicago.

One after another stood up to say a casino would bring new jobs and generate $20 million a month or so that Emanuel has pledged to use to rebuild the city.

“Governor, sign this bill, it’s a no brainer,” said Ald. Richard Mell, 33rd, who has long advocated a casino for the city.

Emanuel has been pushing Quinn to sign a major gambling expansion bill. The governor has expressed deep reservations, saying it's "top heavy" and could weaken gambling oversight. Lawmakers have yet to send him the bill.

“This is not a tax increase,” said Ald. Ray Suarez, 31st. “Give Chicago a chance to have a casino. Give Chicago a chance to use that money on infrastructure, which is badly needed.”

The resolution in favor of the casino was offered by Ald. Howard Brookins, 21st, and Ald. Daniel Solis, 25th, leaders of the African-American and Latino caucuses that earlier expressed their support for the measure.

Emanuel, meanwhile, reiterated that he’s not all that keen on the idea of a casino, but rather sees it as a way to create jobs and rebuild the city with gambling money that would otherwise cross the border to Indiana.

“I didn’t come to the casino as an enthusiast,” he said. “I came to it as a necessity. . . . Give us an opportunity to make this investment.”